Outline

Background: Venous disorders like varicose veins (VV), telangiectases (Tel) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are among the most common diseases in the western populations. Data concerning the incidence of venous diseases based on duplex controlled epidemiologic studies in the general population are rarely published.

Material and methods: Data are derived from the Bonn Vein Study I (BVS I), a population-based cohort study (2000–2008) which included 3072 participants between 18 and 79 years, residing in Bonn and two rural adjacent townships. All participants filled in a questionnaire regarding socio-economic status, lifestyle, medical history and quality of life. Trained examiners conducted an interview concerning the phlebological history and performed a clinical examination including duplex-sonography. Venous diseases were judged by CEAP-classification (including the clinical score evaluating the symptoms of CVI and the disability score).

Results: Response at follow-up after a mean of 6.6 years was 84.6%. The cohort which was fully investigated included 868 men and 1109 women. Considering only the 1977 fully examined participants, prevalence of varicose veins (VV) increased from 22.7% to 25.1% and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) increased from 14.5 to 16%. The progression for the participants classified as C2 present in BVS I towards a higher C-stage in BVS II is 27.8%. C4 individuals had an incidence of 8.2% for C5 or C6. In 17.1% of the population the CEAP clinical score increased.

Reflux in the superficial or deep venous system was diagnosed in 28% of the BVS I population, 20.7% in the superficial and 19.9% in the deep veins. The incidence for newly developed reflux in BVS II was 9% for deep veins and 8.9% for superficial veins. The incidence of lymphedema (StemmerÂ´s sign) was 6.5%.

Discussion: The first results of BVS II indicate an increase of prevalence in C-stages C2–C6 and a decrease in C0/C1.